SMC hikes alcohol production for Covid frontliners

FILE: San Miguel Corporation Headquarters at Ortigas Center, Pasig City (Photo By Elmer B. Domingo/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is increasing its production of 70 percent ethyl alcohol- used as a disinfectant and sanitizer – to 100,000 liters daily to serve the needs of frontliners nationwide in the fight against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

SMC president and COO Ramon Ang said the company has activated all the facilities of its liquor arm Ginebra San Miguel Inc. (GSMI) to produce alcohol round-the-clock, even as the company continues to find even more ways to reach out and support the government and private sector with response efforts.

Ang thanked the Food and Drug Administration for its quick response in getting GSMI’s Cabuyao plant and the rest of its facilities to produce rubbing alcohol distributed to frontliners today.

“So far, we have donated 29,300 liters of 70 percent ethyl alcohol to 77 hospitals throughout Metro Manila, as well as the Department of Health, crisis centers, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and other vital institutions. This is just the start. As we navigate through the challenges, we will continue to provide help where it’s needed,” Ang said.

“This is our way of thanking and supporting all our brave doctors, nurses, policemen, military, security personnel, delivery workers, employees of vital industries and so many others who are on the frontlines of this battle, saving lives and making sure the system is in order,” he added.

To date, the bulk of alcohol production is being done at GSMI’s Cabuyao plant in Laguna.

However, with other GSMI facilities producing the same rubbing alcohol, the reach of the initiative will widen and benefit more Filipinos.

“Right now we are only able to serve NCR, but we have already mobilized our other facilities to produce alcohol as well for nationwide delivery,” Ang added.

These include Ginebra plants in Mandaue, Cebu; Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan; Destileria Bago in Negros Occidental, Cauayan, Isabela, and Ligao, Albay. (SMC PR)